Three Presiding Judges in Ahok Blasphemy Trial Receive Promotions

Jakarta. Three of the panel of five judges who presided in Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s blasphemy trial in the North Jakarta District Court, have been promoted.

Dwiarso Budi Santiarto, who headed the panel, was appointed as a judge in the Denpasar High Court in Bali, while Jupriyadi was appointed as chairman of the Bandung District Court in West Java. Abdul Rosyad was appointed as a judge at the Palu High Court in Central Sulawesi.

A notice posted on the Supreme Court’s website on Thursday (11/05) states that Dwiarso was promoted during an internal meeting on Wednesday.

Makassar District Court chairman Cakra Alam Dwiarso will replace Dwiarso, who is also chairman of the North Jakarta District Court.

The two remaining judges on the panel, I Wayan Wirjana and Didik Wuryanto, were not promoted.

The North Jakarta Court sentenced Ahok to two years in prison on Tuesday, prompting strong local and international reaction.

The United Nations Human Rights Council also made a recommendation that the Indonesian government revise Article 156a of the Criminal Code on religious defamation.